WikiLeaks founder to guest on ‘The Simpsons’

It’s hard to keep a secret from Julian Assange — and it turns out, it’s even harder to keep a secret about him.

It was revealed Monday that the founder of WikiLeaks will make a guest appearance on the 500th episode of “The Simpsons,” one of America’s longest-running television shows. Assange recorded his lines months ago, and the episode is expected to air on Feb. 19, according to producer Al Jean, who spoke to Entertainment Weekly.

In the episode, the Simpson family goes on the lam after townsfolk organize to boot them out of Springfield. On the run, Assange turns up in the role of “their new Flanders,” Jean explained, except that he’s not immutably Christian.

Instead of inviting the Simpsons over for church or Sunday dinner, Assange brings Homer and crew to a film screening, where they witness an Afghan wedding party being bombed by U.S. forces. The bit is a grim parody of once-secret war videos unearthed by WikiLeaks, showing U.S. soldiers killing civilians.

About the Author

Stephen C. Webster is the senior editor of Raw Story, and is based out of Austin, Texas. He previously worked as the associate editor of The Lone Star Iconoclast in Crawford, Texas, where he covered state politics and the peace movement’s resurgence at the start of the Iraq war. Webster has also contributed to publications such as True/Slant, Austin Monthly, The Dallas Business Journal, The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Weekly, The News Connection and others. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenCWebster.